US TOUR: Michelle Wie's fifth appearance on the US men's Tour got off to a disappointing start yesterday when she struggled to a six-over-par 77 at the John Deere Classic in Silvis, Illinois.

The 16-year-old, who would qualify for next week's Open Championship if she finished in the top 10 and was the leading non-exempt player on Sunday, was fighting an uphill battle from the moment she double-bogeyed the 11th hole, her second. She followed it with four bogeys and two birdies in the next six holes, turned in 40 and then dropped further shots at the first and eighth.

Leaders at seven under were Australian John Senden and Americans JP Hayes and Ryder Cup contender Zach Johnson.

CHAMPIONS TOUR: Des Smyth fired a 71 to trail first round leaders Ron Streck and Fuzzy Zoeller by six shots in the Senior Players Championship at the TPC Michigan at Dearborn, Michigan.

CHALLENGE TOUR: England's Lee S James blazed a trail to the top of the leaderboard after a brilliant second round of seven-under-par 65 gave him a halfway total of 13-under 131 at the Texbond Open. But he will have to keep a close eye on the man on his shoulder, the European Challenge Tour's current number one, Johan Axgren of Sweden, who added a 66 to his opening 67 for 133.

Colm Moriarty is best of the Irish on 141.

EUROPEAN AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPS: Irish golfers suffered a disappointing day on the European stage yesterday, failing to progress to the semi-finals of any of the team championships.

Particularly upsetting was their failure to make progress in the Youths' competition over the San Roque course in Spain's Cadiz district.

They went into this on Tuesday full of hope, expecting to give defending champions Scotland and England, the runners-up two years ago, a good run for their money. But it was not to be.

Both Scotland and England made it through to the last four but Ireland fell by the wayside, being defeated by Italy who performed above expectations and were good value for their success.

They battled hard in the morning foursomes and were actually unfortunate not to go into lunch with a 2-0 advantage which would, almost certainly, have seen them through to the next stage.

But Close champion Rory McIlroy and Simon Ward, having fought hard throughout the match against Marco Gueriscoli and Federico Colombo, succumbed at the third extra hole where they hit a wayward drive.

Shane Lowry and Aaron O'Callaghan won their match against Matteo del Podio and Lorenzo Gagli by 2 and 1 to set up an enthalling afternoon but Irish onlookers were well aware that for their side to have a realistic chance of progress, McIlroy needed to triumph at the top of the order against Gueriscoli. And indeed it was close all the way but the Italian seemed to just have the edge.

He was one up at the turn and maintained that advantage to pull through to the last.

One Irish winner always seemed likely as Simon Ward - three up at the turn on Andrea Pavan - went on to win 3 and 2.

Although the other three matches were all close, it always felt that the Italians had the edge'

There was some comfort in the Boys' Team Championship at Malmo, Sweden as Ireland beat Switzerland 3½-1½ but as it was a second flight match - the best position they can finish is ninth.

Ireland had a free day in both the European under-21 Womens' and Girls' Team Championships but will re-enter the fray today.